Miniature rose plant ‘JENfour’

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, long lasting, orange colored flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glass houses as a flowering pot plant. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of genus and species: Rosa hybrida ‘JENfour’.

Variety denomination: The new variety is named ‘JENfour’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety ofminiature rose plant, which was developed by artificially pollinating anunnamed seedling (not patented in the US) with an unnamed seedling (notpatented in the US). The two parents were crossed during the summer of2001, and the resulting seed was sown in December 2001, in a controlledglasshouse environment. Out of the resulting seedlings one seedling wasselected, as a distinct new variety and was named ‘JENfour’.

The variety can be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamedseedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   ‘JENfour’ has medium sized double flowers, while the unnamed        seed parent has large double flowers.    -   ‘JENfour’ has orange colored petals, while the unnamed seed        parent has red petals.

The new variety may distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamedseedling created by the same inventor, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   ‘JENfour’ has smaller flowers and foliage as compared to the        unnamed pollen parent.    -   ‘JENfour’ has orange colored petals, while the unnamed pollen        parent has dark yellow petals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Initial asexual reproduction of ‘JENfour’ by cuttings was first carriedout by the inventor in Christiansfeld, Denmark. The reproduction wasconducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. Having demonstratedasexual reproduction it was found that all characteristics anddistinctions came true to form and were established in succeedingpropagations. ‘JENfour’ is a low and compact miniature rose with mediumvigor.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercialgreenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with:

-   -   Uniform and abundant flowers with good keeping properties;    -   Attractive long lasting foliage and compact growth;    -   Year round flowering under glasshouse conditions;    -   Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;    -   Durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for        distribution in the floral industry.

This combination of qualities was not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type and distinguish ‘JENfour’ from allother varieties of which the inventor is aware. The seeds from thestated hybridization were planted in a controlled environment andevaluations were conducted on the resulting plants. ‘JENfour’ wasselected by Svend Jensen, in his development program in Christiansfeld,Denmark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonable toobtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics ofthe buds, flowers, leaves, stems of ‘JENfour’. Specifically illustratedin:

Photo Sheet 1

FIG. 1: Young shoot.

FIG. 2: Bud before opening of the sepals.

FIG. 3: Bud at the stage of opening of the sepals.

FIG. 4: Bud at the stage of opening the petals.

FIG. 5: Flower during course of opening.

FIG. 6: Open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 7: Open flower—plan view—reverse.

FIG. 8: Fully open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 9: Fully open flower—plan view—reverse.

Photo Sheet 2

FIG. 10: Receptacle showing stamens and pistils.

FIG. 11: Receptacle showing pistils (stamens and sepals removed).

FIG. 12: Flower petals, detached—inner surface.

FIG. 13: Flower petals, detached—outer surface.

FIG. 14: Bare stem exhibiting thorns and flower attachment.

FIG. 15: Three leaflets upper side.

FIG. 16: Three leaflets reverse side.

FIG. 17: Five leaflets upper side.

FIG. 18: Five leaflets reverse side.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the Miniature Rose: Rosahybrida ‘JENfour’.

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in glass houses in Christiansfeld, Denmark. Theage of the observed plants were 11 to 13 weeks after propagation bycuttings, and growth as a flowering pot plant in container of 10centimeters diameter.

Environmental conditions in the cultivation area for the observed plantsranged from 64 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit with and 10 to 20 hours of lightper day. Light levels ranged from 600 foot candle to 6000 foot candles.The relative humidity ranged from 50 to 85%. Bonzi brand growthregulator(R′,R′-beta-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-alpha(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol)was used to modify the plant shape.

Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color areused.

For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is ‘POULfiry’, arose variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,484.

Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of ‘JENfour’ and‘POULfiry’.

CHART 1 ‘JENfour’ ‘POULfiry’ Petal color, Upper Red Group Red Groupsurface 40A 40B-C Petal color, Reverse Red Group Red Group surface 40A40B-C Petal count 40-45 20-25 Parents: Seed Parent: Unnamed seedlingPollen Parent: Unnamed seedling

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida.        -   Commercial.—Miniature.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Moderately vigorous. Grows compact upright to bushy.    When grown as 10 cm pot plant, the average height of the plant    itself is 18 to 20 cm, and average width is 20 cm. When grown as a    15 cm pot plant, the average height of the plant itself is 22 to 27    cm, and average width is 30 cm.

Production time is generally 11 to 13 weeks depending on averagetemperature, light level, and cultural practices.

STEM

-   Color:    -   -   Young wood.—Yellow-Green Group 146A-B.        -   Older wood.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.-   Thorns:    -   -   Incidence.—6 to 8 thorns per stem.        -   Size.—2-3 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-Purple Group 181B.        -   Shape.—Deep concave.-   Surface:    -   -   Young wood.—Smooth.        -   Older wood.—Smooth.-   Stem:    -   -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Internode length.—20-25 mm.        -   Numbers of internodes.—5-6.

PLANT FOLIAGE

Leaves arranged alternately, compound with 3 to 7 leaflets per leaf,generally symmetrical, abundant, and flat in aspect. Stipules at petiolebase.

-   Quantity of leaves: 5-6 per lateral branch.-   Leaf size: Medium 30-60 mm (l). by 25-40 mm (w), for five leaflets.-   Petioles:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 147A.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Length.—5-8 mm. Diameter: about 0.5-1 mm.-   Stipules:    -   -   Size.—4-8 mm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 147A-B.        -   Margins.—Entire.-   Rachis:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 148A.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Length.—10 to 20 mm.        -   Diameter.—0.5-1 mm.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serration.—Single.        -   Shape.—Ovate with acute apex and obtuse base.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Dull.        -   Size.—Length: 10 to 30 mm. Width: 8 to 10 mm.-   Color: Young foliage:    -   -   Upper surface.—Yellow-Green Group 147A (with intonations of            Greyed-Purple Group 183C).        -   Lower surface.—Greyed-Green Group 189A.-   Color: Mature foliage:    -   -   Upper surface.—Yellow-Green Group 147A.        -   Lower surface.—Greyed-Green Group 189A.-   Leaf vein color:    -   -   Upper surface.—Yellow-Green Group 147A.        -   Reverse surface.—Greyed-Green Group 192D.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent.-   Number of flowers: Generally 3-5 buds per flowering stem.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146A-B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—10-15 mm.        -   Orientation.—Upright.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Shape.—Cup-shaped.        -   Size.—5-6 mm (h) by 6-8 mm (w).        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146B-C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Shape.—Narrowly Ovate with acute tip.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Margin.—Foliaceous appendages on 2 of the five sepals.        -   Appearance.—Dull.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A-B. Reverse            surface: Greyed-Green Group 191D.        -   Size.—12 mm(l), by 5 mm(w).-   Buds:    -   -   Size.—10-14 mm (h) by 10-12 mm (w) upon opening.        -   Shape.—Cupped.        -   Color.—At ¼ open, Red Group 40A.-   Flower:    -   -   Duration.—As a pot plant, flowers last from 14 to 17 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Size.—30-40 mm in diameter. Depth: 10-12 mm.        -   Form.—(Shape of flower when viewed from the side). Upon            opening: Cupped. Open flower: Flat.-   Color:    -   -   Petals, upon opening.—Upper surface: Red Group 40A. Reverse            surface: Red Group 40A.        -   Petals after opening.—Upper surface: Red Group 40A. Reverse            surface: Red Group 40A.        -   Basal petals spots.—Size: 1-5 mm. Color: White Group 155C.        -   General tonality.—On Open flower: Third day: Red Group 40A.            Afterwards: Red Group 40A.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—Outermost petals reflex backwards at opening.            Fully open all petals reflex backwards.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Petal edge.—Entire.        -   Petal count.—Approximately 45 on the average per flower.        -   Petal size.—10-15 mm (l) by 10-15 mm (w).        -   Shape.—Outer petals: Round. Inner petals: Ovate.        -   Apex.—Orbicular, Base: Obtuse to rotundate.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—Approximately 60 on average per flower.        -   Stamens length.—5-6 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 20D.        -   Pollen abundance.—Average.        -   Anther size.—1-1.5 mm.        -   Anther color.—Yellow-White Group 159D.        -   Anther shape.—Oblong.        -   Filament size.—4-5 mm.        -   Filament color.—White Group 155D.        -   Pistils number.—Approximately 40 on average per flower.        -   Stigma location.—Inferior in location relative anthers.        -   Stigma color.—Green-White Group 157D.        -   Style color.—Green-White Group 157D.        -   Style length.—1 to 2 mm.

DEVELOPMENT

-   Vegetation: Dense.-   Blooming: Abundant.-   Fruit set: Poor.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to mildew and Botrytis    under normal growing conditions in Christiansfeld, Denmark.-   Hips/seeds: Fruits have not been observed because the plant has    never been grown to the stage of seed development because the    variety is developed for use as a flowering pot plant only.

Winter hardiness & drought/heat tolerance have not been systematicallyobserved evaluated because the variety is a potted flowering plant,developed for a one time use only.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class,substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinct andnovel rose variety due to its abundant, long lasting, orange coloredflowers, attractive long lasting foliage, vigorous and compact growth,year round flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitability forproduction from softwood cuttings in pots, and durable flowers andfoliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floralindustry.